1
|
Song J, Kim S, Park Y. A Retrospective Study of Factors Contributing to the Performance of an Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Blood Test for Tuberculosis Infection. Clin Chem 2024; 70:551-561. [PMID: 38299916 DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvad220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern. Accurate detection of latent TB infection is crucial for effective control and prevention. We aimed to assess the performance of an interferon-gamma release assay blood test (QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus [QFT-Plus]) in various clinical contexts and identify conditions that affect its results. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of 31 000 QFT-Plus samples collected from 26 000 subjects at a tertiary hospital in South Korea over a 4-year period and compared the rates of positivity and indeterminate results across diverse clinical situations. We also analysed the contribution of the QuantiFERON TB2 tube to the test's sensitivity and determined optimal cutoff values for 3 hematologic parameters to distinguish false-negative results. These cutoff values were validated in a separate cohort of subjects with microbiologically confirmed subclinical TB. RESULTS Rates of QFT-Plus positivity and indeterminate results were disparate across diagnoses. The TB2 tube increased QFT-Plus sensitivity by 4.1% (95% CI, 1.1%-7.0%) in patients with subclinical TB. Absolute lymphocyte count ≤1.19 × 109/L, absolute neutrophil count ≥5.88 × 109/L, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio ≥4.33 were effective criteria to discriminate false-negative QFT-Plus results. Application of the hematologic criteria, individually or combined with mitogen response <10 IU/mL, substantially improved performance in the main study cohort and the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the influence of clinical context and patient hematologic profiles on QFT-Plus results. To minimise neglected latent TB infections due to false-negative QFT-Plus results, serial retesting is advisable in patients with severe lymphopenia or neutrophilia, particularly when the mitogen response is <10 IU/mL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junhyup Song
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sinyoung Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Younhee Park
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lu J, Murugesan K, Senchyna F, Budvytiene I, Banaei N. Accuracy of QuantiFERON in active tuberculosis suspects with comorbidities and nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in Northern California. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0077523. [PMID: 37843251 PMCID: PMC10662337 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00775-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) is routinely utilized in North American health systems to detect a cellular immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The sensitivity of QFT in tuberculosis (TB) patients with comorbidities is not well established and the specificity of QFT in patients with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections is incompletely understood. Between 2012 and 2023, all patients with culture-positive TB and patients with NTM infection per the expert diagnostic guidelines or biopsy-proven NTM infection who had a concurrent QFT test were included in this study. The sensitivity and specificity of QFT were measured in TB and NTM patients, respectively. In 109 patients with active TB, the overall sensitivity of QFT was 78.0% (85/109; 95% CI: 70.1, 85.7). The sensitivity was 86.0% (49/57; 95% CI: 76.6, 94.8) and 69.2% (36/52; 95% CI: 56.7, 81.8) in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, respectively. The overall specificity of QFT in 88 patients with NTM infection was 76.1% (67/88; 95% CI: 67.2, 85.0). After the exclusion of 17 NTM patients with risk factors for latent TB infection, the specificity was 94.4% (67/71; 95% CI: 89.1, 99.7). Two patients had NTM species known to cross-react with QFT. In two NTM patients infected with species (Mycobacterium intracellulare subsp. intracellulare and Mycobacterium intracellulare subsp. chimaera) not known to cross-react, whole genome sequencing did not detect ESAT-6 or CFP-10. In Northern California, the QFT assay demonstrated moderately low to moderately high sensitivity in TB patients and very high specificity in NTM patients, thus ruling out concerns for cross-reactivity with NTM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacky Lu
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Kanagavel Murugesan
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Fiona Senchyna
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Indre Budvytiene
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Niaz Banaei
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Soler-Garcia A, Gamell A, Monsonís M, Korta-Murua JJ, Espiau M, Rincón-López E, Rodríguez-Molino P, Pérez-Porcuna T, Bustillo-Alonso M, Santiago B, Tebruegge M, Noguera-Julian A. The Value of the Second QuantiFERON-TB Gold-Plus Antigen Tube at Diagnosis and at Treatment Completion in Spanish Children With Tuberculosis. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2023; 42:1017-1020. [PMID: 37566889 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
We studied 295 children (tuberculosis disease, n = 159; latent tuberculosis infection, n = 136) with positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold-Plus assay results. No significant differences between first and second antigen tube interferon-gamma responses were detected, irrespective of patient and disease characteristics at diagnosis. Of patients with a repeat assay after treatment completion (n = 65), only 16.9% converted to negative results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleix Soler-Garcia
- From the Malalties Infeccioses i Resposta Inflamatòria Sistèmica en Pediatria, Servei de Malalties Infeccioses i Patologia Importada, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Gamell
- From the Malalties Infeccioses i Resposta Inflamatòria Sistèmica en Pediatria, Servei de Malalties Infeccioses i Patologia Importada, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Monsonís
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Javier Korta-Murua
- Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Donostia-Instituto BioDonostia, Donostia Ospitalea, San Sebastián, Spain
- Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, EHU-UPV, Donostia University Hospital Gipuzkoa Building, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - María Espiau
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Rincón-López
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Gregorio Marañón Mother and Child Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Rodríguez-Molino
- Pediatric Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tomàs Pérez-Porcuna
- Atenció Primària, Fundació Assistencial Mútua de Terrassa, Terrassa, Spain
- Unitat de Salut Internacional, Departament de Pediatria, Fundació Recerca Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terassa, Universitat de Barcelona, Terrassa, Spain
| | | | - Begoña Santiago
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Gregorio Marañón Mother and Child Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
- Red de Investigación Translacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marc Tebruegge
- Department of Paediatrics, Klinik Ottakring, Wiener Gesundheitsverbund, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Antoni Noguera-Julian
- From the Malalties Infeccioses i Resposta Inflamatòria Sistèmica en Pediatria, Servei de Malalties Infeccioses i Patologia Importada, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Red de Investigación Translacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP), Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Cirurgia i Especialitats Medicoquirúrgiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pérez-Recio S, Grijota-Camino MD, Anibarro L, Rabuñal-Rey R, Sabria J, Gijón-Vidaurreta P, Pomar V, García-Gasalla M, Domínguez-Castellano Á, Trigo M, Santos MJ, Cebollero A, Rodríguez S, Moga E, Penas-Truque A, Martos C, Ruiz-Serrano MJ, Garcia-de-Cara EI, Alcaide F, Santin M. Reversions of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus in tuberculosis contact investigation: A prospective multicentre cohort study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285917. [PMID: 37647315 PMCID: PMC10468083 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interferon-y Release Assays (IGRA) reversions have been reported in different clinical scenarios for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) infection. This study aimed to determine the rate of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) reversions during contact investigation as a potential strategy to reduce the number of preventive treatments. METHODS Prospective, multicentre cohort study of immunocompetent adult contacts of patients with pulmonary TB tested with QFT-Plus. Contacts with an initial positive QFT-Plus (QFT-i) underwent a second test within 4 weeks (QFT-1), and if negative, underwent a repeat test 4 weeks later (QFT-2). Based on the QFT-2 result, we classified cases as sustained reversion if they remained negative and as temporary reversion if they turned positive. RESULTS We included 415 contacts, of whom 96 (23.1%) had an initial positive test (QFT-i). Following this, 10 had negative QFT-1 results and 4 (4.2%) of these persisted with a negative result in the QFT-2 (sustained reversions). All four sustained reversions occurred in contacts with IFN-γ concentrations between ≥0.35 and ≤0.99 IU•mL-1 in one or both QFT-i tubes. CONCLUSION In this study, TB contact investigations rarely reveal QFT-Plus reversion. These results do not support retesting cases with an initial positive result to reduce the number of preventive treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pérez-Recio
- Tuberculosis Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Bellvitge University Hospital-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria D. Grijota-Camino
- Tuberculosis Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Bellvitge University Hospital-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Fundamental and Medical-Surgical Nursing, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Anibarro
- Tuberculosis Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Ramón Rabuñal-Rey
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain
| | - Josefina Sabria
- Tuberculosis Unit, Hospital Moisès Broggi, Sant Joan Despí, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paloma Gijón-Vidaurreta
- Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Virginia Pomar
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercedes García-Gasalla
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma, Spain
- Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), Palma, Spain
| | | | - Matilde Trigo
- Microbiology Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain
| | | | - Alba Cebollero
- Department of Clinical Analysis, CLILAB Diagnostics Laboratory, Vilafranca del Penedés, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Rodríguez
- Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Moga
- Department of Immunology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Carmen Martos
- Tuberculosis Unit, Hospital Moisès Broggi, Sant Joan Despí, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M. Jesús Ruiz-Serrano
- Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Enfermedades Respiratorias- CIBERES (CB06/06/0058), Madrid, Spain
| | - Erika I. Garcia-de-Cara
- Department of Microbiology, Bellvitge University Hospital—Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando Alcaide
- Department of Microbiology, Bellvitge University Hospital—Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapy, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Santin
- Tuberculosis Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Bellvitge University Hospital-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Infectious Diseases Network (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ruiz-Tagle C, Ugalde JA, Naves R, Araos R, García P, Balcells ME. Reduced microbial diversity of the nasopharyngeal microbiome in household contacts with latent tuberculosis infection. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7301. [PMID: 37147354 PMCID: PMC10160714 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34052-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The upper respiratory tract is an obliged pathway for respiratory pathogens and a healthy microbiota may support the host's mucosal immunity preventing infection. We analyzed the nasopharyngeal microbiome in tuberculosis household contacts (HHCs) and its association with latent tuberculosis infection (TBI). A prospective cohort of HHCs was established and latent TBI status was assessed by serial interferon-γ release assay (IGRA). Nasopharyngeal swabs collected at baseline were processed for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The 82 participants included in the analysis were classified as: (a) non-TBI [IGRA negative at baseline and follow-up, no active TB (n = 31)], (b) pre-TBI [IGRA negative at baseline but converted to IGRA positive or developed active TB at follow-up (n = 16)], and (c) TBI [IGRA positive at enrollment (n = 35)]. Predominant phyla were Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. TBI group had a lower alpha diversity compared to non-TBI (padj = 0.04) and pre-TBI (padj = 0.04). Only TBI and non-TBI had beta diversity differences (padj = 0.035). Core microbiomes' had unique genera, and genus showed differential abundance among groups. HHCs with established latent TBI showed reduced nasopharyngeal microbial diversity with distinctive taxonomical composition. Whether a pre-existing microbiome feature favors, are a consequence, or protects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis needs further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cinthya Ruiz-Tagle
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan A Ugalde
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de La Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Republica 330, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Naves
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rafael Araos
- Instituto de Ciencias E Innovación en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia García
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Elvira Balcells
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mousavian Z, Folkesson E, Fröberg G, Foroogh F, Correia-Neves M, Bruchfeld J, Källenius G, Sundling C. A protein signature associated with active tuberculosis identified by plasma profiling and network-based analysis. iScience 2022; 25:105652. [PMID: 36561889 PMCID: PMC9763869 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Annually, approximately 10 million people are diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB), and 1.4 million die of the disease. If left untreated, each person with active TB will infect 10-15 new individuals. The lack of non-sputum-based diagnostic tests leads to delayed diagnoses of active pulmonary TB cases, contributing to continued disease transmission. In this exploratory study, we aimed to identify biomarkers associated with active TB. We assessed the plasma levels of 92 proteins associated with inflammation in individuals with active TB (n = 20), latent TB (n = 14), or healthy controls (n = 10). Using co-expression network analysis, we identified one module of proteins with strong association with active TB. We removed proteins from the module that had low abundance or were associated with non-TB diseases in published transcriptomic datasets, resulting in a 12-protein plasma signature that was highly enriched in individuals with pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB and was further associated with disease severity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zaynab Mousavian
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elin Folkesson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gabrielle Fröberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Laboratory, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fariba Foroogh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Margarida Correia-Neves
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Judith Bruchfeld
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunilla Källenius
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christopher Sundling
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pettengill MA. Clinical Microbiology in 2021: My Favorite Studies about Everything Except My Least Favorite Virus. CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY NEWSLETTER 2022; 44:73-80. [PMID: 35529099 PMCID: PMC9053308 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Pettengill
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|